Our Core Values – What will characterize our ministry?

1. Anticipating Change
• Personal Change — we expect the Gospel to change us
• Corporate Change — we expect the Gospel to change our families and our congregation
• City Change — we expect the Gospel to change our city
• Ripple effect of Gospel — Gospel changes everything
2. Accountability
• Concern for nominal church members
• Clear expectations and responsibilities for church members
• Members have clear expectations of the church
• Relationships of accountability are fostered
3. Authenticity
• Show authenticity in faith — real, not religious
• Authentic with one another — honesty and transparency
• Act authentically in the world — our message is validated by our actions in the community
4. Active Discipleship
• Teach to obey; not simply to know
• Encourage and celebrate “spiritual disciplines”
• Intentional Praying community
• Immersed in the biblical story and identifying our place in it
5. Allegiance-Altering Worship
• Focused on God
• Active participation
• Public truth proclaimed in the public eye
• Missionary identity shaped by encounter with God's missionary heart
6. Apostolic Living
• A people sent on a mission
• A people scattered in the public square
• City Positive — sent to renew the city
7. Agency of Release
• Success defined not by growth in numbers, but by ability of church to release members into ministry
• Capacity to release vs. ability to retain
• Give away people, resources, make new disciples, birth new congregations, etc.
• Intentional Leadership Development
8. Advocate Kingdom Cooperation
• Partner with others in community
• Promote unity between churches in Kingdom Mission
• Equip members for Kingdom-vocation in all areas of life
9. Alternative Community
• Corporate witness that is a sign and foretaste of the Kingdom of God
• Embrace the mentally ill
• Walk with the poor
• Pursue justice and mercy
• Exist separate from and for the sake of the city
10. Acting on Purpose
• We know and live out of our purpose
• We analyze and assess all our practices based on achieving our purpose
• We let go of that which does not serve our purpose